A federal judge in New Mexico says former service members will be given their separation pay

- 01/08/2013 by Andrea Sears (WBAI)

A federal court in New Mexico has ruled that former service members who were honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and joined in a class action lawsuit, must be given their full separation pay. People who serve in the military for six years or more are entitled to collect separation pay when they are discharged to help ease the transition back to civilian life. Though it was never part of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law, it was Pentagon policy to give those discharged for homosexuality only half the discharge pay they would otherwise get.

WBAI's Andrea Sears speaks with Joshua Block a staff attorney with the ACLU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Project. He says they’re grateful that these service members are finally getting justice.